5 American Golfers on the Verge of Winning Their First Major

On the heels of Zach Johnson's major triumph at the Home of Golf, it's fitting to ask a couple of questions. One is: Who will be the next American to win a major? Tiger Woods? Phil Mickelson? Bubba Watson? Jordan Spieth? 

Perhaps a more entertaining question, though, is this: Who will be the next American to win his first major? 

Looking at the roster of the best golfers in the world from the US of A, there are some compelling names of both veterans and young guns.

Based on quality of play in recent seasons and past major performances, we've identified five Americans next in line to raise a maiden major trophy.

Who are they? Click through to find out.  

Dustin Johnson

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Best Masters finish: T6

Best U.S. Open finish: T2

Best British Open finish: T2

Best PGA Championship finish: T5 

More than anyone else on this list, Dustin Johnson should already have a major championship. He had the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay well within his reach before three-putting the 72nd hole from inside 20 feet. DJ also famously grounded his club in what he (nor anyone, really) did not realize was a bunker, garnered a penalty stroke and missed out on a playoff by a stroke. 

With seven top-10s and a win this year, Johnson's form is good. As the tour's longest hitter, DJ is at an extreme advantage. He's eighth on tour in strokes gained tee-to-green. So, if he can ever have a decent putting week in a major, he'll take home a title. It stands to reason that the PGA Championship is his best shot as the greens are traditionally the slowest and least severe. 

Rickie Fowler

Steve Helber/Associated Press

Best Masters finish: T5

Best U.S. Open finish: T2

Best British Open finish: T2

Best PGA Championship finish: T3 

Rickie Fowler did everything but win a major last year. He's taken an additional step forward this year with a statement victory at The Players Championship and a second win at the Scottish Open on the European Tour.

Fowler's best major play has come at the Masters and U.S. Open. At the former, he finished tied for fifth last year and tied for 12th this year. At the U.S. Open, he finished tied for 10th in 2013 and tied for second last year.

The eighth-ranked golfer in the world, Fowler has stepped his game up in majors over the past two seasons. Now a multiple winner in a single season, if the California native continues his progress under coach Butch Harmon, a major victory should be in the cards. 

Matt Kuchar

Jon Super/Associated Press

Best Masters finish: T5

Best U.S. Open finish: T6

Best British Open finish: T9

Best PGA Championship finish: T10 

Matt Kuchar has played his best major golf at the Masters, where from 2012 through 2014 he didn't finish worse than tied for eighth. He's also finished inside the top 30 in the last six U.S. Opens. 

Kuchar has at least one victory in five of the last seven seasons and has been a fixture in the top 25 of the Official World Golf Ranking during that period. This year, he's made 18 of 19 cuts with four top-10 finishes. 

The Georgia Tech alum is 10th on tour in strokes gained putting and 18th in strokes gained total. Thus, his game is good enough to give him a chance every time he tees it off.

At 37, Kuchar is nearing the age of decline on the PGA Tour. It's only a matter of time before he unites the fruits of his years of experience with a good ball striking week to take home a major trophy. 

Brandt Snedeker

Jon Super/Associated Press

Best Masters finish: T6

Best U.S. Open finish: 8

Best British Open finish: T3

Best PGA Championship finish: T3 

Brandt Snedeker has finished inside the top 20 in six of his last seven U.S. Opens, so it seems that if he's going to win a major, the adept putter will do so at the nation's championship. 

Sneds has been resurgent this season with eight top-10 finishes in 20 starts, including a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. 

Fifth on tour in strokes gained putting, Snedeker, who struggles to find greens in regulation, merely needs a week of solid driving and fewer loose iron shots to take a major.  

Jimmy Walker

LM Otero/Associated Press

Best Masters finish: T8

Best U.S. Open finish: T9

Best British Open finish: T26

Best PGA Championship finish: T7 

Late-blooming Jimmy Walker has really only had two seasons of major competition. Last year, he finished inside the top 10 in three of the four majors. This season, he hasn't been as fortunate in major championships. 

Still, Walker has won five times in the past two seasons, making him one of the winningest golfers on tour during that time period. He has 10 top-10 finishes in 27 starts on the PGA Tour this year and leads all players in strokes gained putting and is fifth in strokes gained total. 

Simply, Walker is too good and has performed too well over the past seasons for the stars not to align at some point soon. 

All stats via PGATour.com